Tharwa Founder Saeed Al Fahim Brings Real-Economy Discipline to On-Chain Capital

As a member of one of the UAE’s most prominent business families, Saeed Al Fahim brings decades of exposure to real estate, automotive, and large-scale capital deployment into the crypto space. With deep roots in Abu Dhabi’s financial ecosystem, he is leveraging that background at Tharwa to build programmable, risk-managed capital on-chain.

Bridging Traditional Finance and Digital Assets

Al Fahim sees strong parallels between inefficiencies he addressed in traditional procurement and those now present in crypto markets. While liquidity is abundant on-chain, he argues it is often misallocated. Tharwa is designed to route stablecoin liquidity into Shariah-aligned, yield-bearing structures tied to SME financing and real-economy supply chains.

Real-World Asset Tokenization Grounded in Reality

Drawing on experience managing industrial portfolios exceeding $500 million annually, Al Fahim stresses that tokenization only works when it reflects enforceable, cash-flow-generating assets. Tharwa focuses on economic primitives rather than speculative narratives, applying industrial-grade transparency and risk controls to assets brought on-chain.

Operational Efficiency Reimagined for DeFi

From delivering millions in savings at Emirates Steel Arkan to digitizing procurement at TAQA, Al Fahim applies the same philosophy of efficiency and automation to DeFi. At Tharwa, AI is used to reduce friction, optimize risk-adjusted yield, and transform passive liquidity into productive capital.

AI Agents as an Intelligence Layer, Not Black Boxes

Tharwa describes itself as an AI agent-driven hedge fund, but Al Fahim emphasizes that automation does not mean loss of control. The AI agents analyze market conditions and risk parameters, guiding allocation decisions within predefined rules and governance frameworks rather than executing unchecked trades.

Governance Embedded Directly Into Code

With a background in highly regulated corporate environments, Al Fahim has made governance a foundational principle at Tharwa. Smart contracts are built with clear rules, hard risk limits, and full transparency, aiming to deliver institutional-grade predictability alongside crypto-native openness.

Rapid Early Growth Driven by Conviction

Tharwa reached the top 300 global crypto projects within its first two months, a rise Al Fahim attributes to disciplined capital design and real-economy relevance rather than hype. The next phase, he says, is about sustained growth, deeper real-world integrations, and long-term durability through 2026 and beyond.

Tangible Asset Mindset Fuels Long-Term Ambition

Coming from a family deeply involved in the UAE’s economic development has made Al Fahim more ambitious in crypto, not more cautious. He believes long-term value comes from building infrastructure that compounds through volatility rather than reacting to market cycles.

UAE Positioning Provides Regulatory Advantage

Operating from the UAE, an emerging global hub for blockchain regulation, allows Tharwa to engage early with regulators and asset originators. Al Fahim says this proactive approach enables faster navigation of regulatory grey areas and ensures innovation can scale instead of stalling.

Convergence of Web3 and Industrial Capital

Al Fahim envisions a future where on-chain and traditional capital operate on the same rails. Just as ESG and in-country value initiatives moved into the mainstream, he believes Web3 capital will increasingly integrate with institutional finance, with Tharwa positioned as a bridge between the two.

Balancing Enterprise Discipline With Crypto Speed

Running a high-growth blockchain protocol alongside enterprise responsibilities requires structure and leverage. Al Fahim says automation and smart contracts allow Tharwa to operate continuously, freeing leadership to focus on strategy while maintaining accountability and discipline.